All men by nature are dead in respect of any spirituall life namely dead in trespasses and sinnes sin is the bane and death of our soules for the Wages of sinne is death Death bringeth vs into the full and absolute power of the Deuill that wee are all of vs thus seruants vnto sinne It is plain by the Apostles complaint Eph. 2.1 Rom. 6.23 Rom. 7.14 Rom. 6.16 Gen. 2.17 I am carnall sold vnder sinne and then vnto whom soeuer wee giue our selues as seruants to obey his seruants we are Now that we are all by nature seruants vnto sin and vnto death it cannot bee denied for what was it that God sayd vnto Adam In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death As soone as Adam had sinned presently the sentence tooke place and Adam is now become the child of death and eternall destruction became his portion and this is the condition of all Adams posterity there is not the greatest the noblest the wealthiest nor the fayrest amongst the sonnes of men but wee are thus bound till the Sonne make vs free Men are not onely sicke with sinne or wounded by sinne or halfe dead but starke dead bereft of all spirituall sense and motion And this doth the Apostle most liuely effectually set out vnto vs in another place when he sayth Yee were once darknes Eph. 5.8 but now are light in the Lord He doth not say we were in darknesse Io. 3.6 for then perhaps wee might haue come of our selues into the light againe But yee were darknesse Darknesse it selfe yea nothing else but Darknesse and hence againe is it that naturall men are called Flesh not Fleshly but flesh it selfe and the wisdom that is Rom. 8.7 the best part that can bee in a naturall man what is it but Enmitie with God it may bring a man to Hell but it cannot lead him one inch nearer vnto heauen and therefore being thus starke dead in sinne Alas what can a dead man doe to helpe himselfe No more can a natural man moue so much as one finger to procure saluation to himselfe no no being dead in sinne we cannot so much as thinke one good thought much lesse haue wee free will of our selues to seeke for saluation vntil such time as the Lord hath reuiued vs and quickned vs by the Spirit of grace Lazarus in the Gospell had layne dead foure dayes in the graue so as hee beganne to rotte and to stinke yet when our Sauiour Christ cryed with a loud voyce Lazarus Io. 11. come foorth hee arose incontinently and came and stood foorth This is our case and condition yea the estate and condition of euery soule in the world we be starke dead in trespasses and sinnes nay we lye rotting and putrifying in the graue of our sinnes and vntill Iesus Christ by his spirit and loude voyce of the preaching of the Gospell which is the Word of life shal breath within vs the breath of life and reuiue vs poore soules wee cannot moue so much as one little finger to the Kingdome of heauen This may serue in the first place to confute that erroneous Vse 1 Doctrine of the Papists who say that a man hath naturally Free-will in himselfe by vertue whereof hee can dispose himselfe to the worke of his regeneration Condemnes the Doctrine of the Papists touching Free Will whose opinion if it were granted then were the power of God lesse seene in our second birth then in our first birth which were iniurious to the Spirit of God so to thinke for what can a dead man do to his owne quickning and raysing vp from the graue can hee turne himselfe or any way fitte or prepare himselfe to bee raysed surely no it is altogether impossible nay let a dead man haue all the helpe that may be to bee Raysed vp yet vnlesse the soule bee giuen vnto him all is in vaine so fareth it with the naturall man he can by no meanes dispose himselfe to any spirituall action or motion vnlesse some spirituall life be put into him But what sayeth the Aduersary he may giue his consent to his quickning though hee quicken not himsele But say I what consent call wee the consent of a man that is dead but not to stand vpon their presumptuous doctrine of Free wil the which amongst many other points of Popery maintained by them hath lifted vp many so high amongst them with this vaine opinion of their own worthinesse that they find not themselues to stand in need for the Lord to lift them vp Then in the feare of God let euery man and woman Vse 2 and euery mothers child labour to see our misery to see our poore Soules how they lye rotting in sinne let vs Serues to humble vs in that wee are dead till the Lord quicken vs by his spirit seeing wee bee as the poore Flyes in Winter starke dead not able to moue our little finger to heauen pray vnto the Lord that hee would cause the blessed Sunne-shine of his Word and Gospell to shine vpon vs to warme our cold and benummed soules to quicken our dead consciences by the word of Life and the blessed worke of his holy Spirit for so long as God doth not quicken vs nor reuiue vs alas our soules be dead in sinne and this death is the next step vnto eternall death in the fire of Hell And therefore their case is dangerous and miserable which sleepe snort in sin lye starke dead in the graue of sin vntill it please the Lord to reuiue them by the preaching of the Gospell which is the Power of God vnto Saluation to Reuiue and to quicken our dead soules This being so Note we see then it is no maruell though many that are present in the Assemblies of Gods people at the preaching of the Word and yet reape no profite by it the reason is they are dead now sound a Trumpet in a dead mans eare and he heares it not Euen so Esay 58. let the Minister of Gods Word cry neuer so loude lift vp his voyce like a Trumpet men are no more moued eyther with the comforts of the Word or with the threates of the Law then the seates men sit on because they are dead till the Lord doe please to put life into them And as for those that haue eares to heare with profite and comfort blesse God for it and giue him the glory for so great a mercy for certaine it is by nature the condition of all men is alike till the Lord hath wrought in vs the worke of grace and Reuiued vs with the breath of life Oh what cause then hath man by nature to swell with pride or to bee lifted vp with any conceit at all of his owne worthinesse though they haue neuer so many excellent parts of nature as wit capacity strength beauty or outward gifts as riches honour authority c. yet surely men may see that if
they bee not Reuiued if they bee not borne againe translated out of Adam and ingrafted into Iesus Christ alas they are but as a dead corps that is trimmed and stucke with so many goodly flowers yea the due consideration of that miserable estate and condition in the which they are by nature may cause them to droupe Tit. 1.15 and to hang downe their heads for by their owne filthinesse and impuritie all these their excellent ornaments are defiled and become impure for so sayth the Apostle To those that are defiled is nothing pure but euen their minds and consciences are defiled Oh if this point were wel considered how it would pull downe the pride of mans heart and make men to hasten to come out of so fearefull an estate and condition Doct. 4 The second point of Doctrine wee obserue hence by the authority of this Text is that our regeneration is as hardly wrought Regeneration a worke of new creation Rom. 5.12 Rom. 6.23 as to rayse vp a dead man to restore him againe to life as hard a thing to saue a soule that is dead as to giue life to one that hath a long time lyen rotting in the graue Death is gone ouer all sayth the Apostle and The wages of sinne is death And God told Adam Gen. 2.17 that in that day that he should eate of the forbidden fruit Hee should die the death Now in so much as wee haue all taken part with him in his disobedience wee must also partake with him in his punishment and the punishment is Death not death in respect of any being of the creature as all wicked and vngodly sinners might wish it were but Death in respect of our eternall separation from God In whose presence is life and at whose right hand is pleasure for euermore This is our estate and condition by nature vntill the Lord doe Reuiue vs and to Reuiue vs and quicken vs is as hard a matter as to rayse vp a dead man out of his graue This doth the Prophet Dauid acknowledge when he desired of God that he would Create in him a new heart Psal 51.10 And surely it is as great a matter to Create a new heart as for the Lord againe to Create a new world yea and in some respects it may seeme harder for in the Creation of the world the Lord but spake the Word and all was made there was no hinderance there was no opposition but in the creation of the heart a new there are many lets and hinderances first within a man for euery man by nature is an enemy vnto his owne saluation and the flesh resists this worke besides the Deuil he labours by al means possible to hinder so blessed a worke Besides all this it is a worke of great difficulty not accomplished without great labour and paine and therefore it is called in the Scripture A Birth a Death a Circumcision now as no Birth no Death no cutting off the Flesh can be without paine and sorrow no more can the conuersion of a sinner the Infant is not deliuered out of the Mothers wombe without paine and doest thou thinke O man to part with sinne that is within thee which was conceiued in the wombe with thee and euer since hath been nourished and brought vp with thee as a familiar companion and not taste of paine Eph. 2.1 and heart smart in thy new birth no assuredly it will not be but it will cost thee much sorrow many a sigh and many a bitter teare before this work of grace be effectually wrought in thee It is not in this case as in producing the forms of many Natural things here below which are brought è potentia materiae out of a capable pronenesse of the thing it selfe to receiue such a forme but in the worke of our Regeneration God doth by his spirit deliuer the mind from blindnesse and ignorance the will from rebellion the affections from disorder and all the powers and faculties of the soule from corruption when man is altogether opposite thereto This Doctrine doth iustly condemne most men Vse 1 women amongst vs we think it is an easie matter to be a Christian and so be saued that it is an easie maner to goe to Heauen and many men who be starke dead in sinne and blesse themselues in their euill wayes yet blush not to say they hope to come to heauen as well as the best Preacher of them all Oh poore soule thou art but a dead man in the sight of God wounded at the heart with sinne and vnlesse thou bee reuiued quickned and raysed out of the graue of sinne by the wonderfull worke of God thou canst not bee saued Our Sauiour Christ being working of some great miracle hee tels his Disciples that they should do greater works then that namely they should saue mens soules and that is farre greater then to saue and helpe the body God created all things with his bare word breathed into Adam the Breath of Life Gen. 2. Io. 11. Our Sauiour Christ raysed Lazarus with his word but before hee can rayse a Sinner out of the graue of sinne and put into vs the breath of spirituall life the Sonne of God must come from Heauen and suffer a most cruell and shamefull death 1. Cor. 1.21 Iohn 17.17 euen the death vpon the Crosse before he can quicken and Reuiue vs and therefore it is not so easie a matter as most men take it to bee to become a good Christian No no it is the hardest thing in the world to become a good Christian and so to be saued And therefore seeing this is the estate condition of vs all Oh how carefull ought wee to bee to vse all good meanes that God hath appointed Act. 15.9 to saue our soules as namely the Word preached the Sacraments Prayer Meditations in the Law of God seeing that by these meanes the Lord doth quicken and Reuiue our dead soules Ps 119. Vse 2 Secondly wee are taught heere that seeing we are all dead in Adam by nature vntill such time as the Lord doth quicken vs and Reuiue vs let no man then content himselfe with this diuelish conceit and perswasion that hee can at his owne time and leasure deliuer himselfe from the bondage of sinne and Sathan as it is the corrupt thought of many that though they haue beene the seruants of sinne and of death twentie or forty yeares together yet they thinke that one Lord haue mercy vpon me will open the Heauen gates but O thou vaine man O thou vaine woman Oh see heere that it is the Lord that must worke in thee this worke of grace for by nature thou art Reprobate vnto euery good worke And this new birth is not giuen to euery one No no onely Gods children who are carefull to vse the meanes as hearing the Word preached and taught Sacrament Prayer c. for by these doth the Lord Reuiue vs and
wounded doth make no account at all of the same nor neuer seekes vnto God for mercy Hee will heale vs hee will bind vs vp NOw followes the second reason drawne from the mercy of God For though hee hath spoyled vs and wounded vs yet he will heale vs and bind vs vp againe And these be the most gracious words of God himselfe Behold I am hee and there is no God but I Deu. 32.34 1. Sam. 26. I kill and make aliue I wound and make whole againe And therefore this reason drawne from the mercy of God seeing hee offers himselfe to heale vs and to bind vp the wounds of our soules Oh it ought to moue vs greatly to turne vnto him So then the point of Doctrine that offers itselfe to Doct. 1 be considered of vs is this The mercy of God must lead men to repentance that as the iudgements of God must alluremen to repentance and to returne vnto God so must his mercies I remember the speech in the Prophet where the Lord is pleased to make vs the better to conceiue of his mercy to take to himselfe the affections of a man Ier. 31.20 Hos 11.8 His bowels were troubled for Ephraim And againe How shall I giue thee vp Ephraim how shall I deliuer thee Israel how shall I make thee as Admah how shall I set thee as Zeboim my heart is turned within mee my repentings are rowled together It is all one as if the Lord should haue said Oh it goes neare me O Ephraim Exod. 34.6.7 O Israel that I should euen be forced by thy rebellion and horrible impieties to deale so straightly with thee And the Lord tels Moses Psal 86.15 that he is a Mercifull and a gracious God slow to anger and abundant in goodnesse and truth reseruing mercy for thousands and forgiuing iniquity and transgression and sinne Hee is called againe of the Psalmist A pittifull God And the like is intended in the language of the new Testament That when hee saw the multitude dspersed as sheepe hauing no shepheard his bowels earned within him Mat. 9.36 These examples and the like whereof the Scriptures are full all serue to confirm the euerlasting truth of this doctrine that God is a God of mercy that his mercies ought to allure men to repentance for though the thundering out of the threatnings and iudgements of the Law be a meanes to awake a secure heart yet nothing will so much affect a mans mind euen melt a mans soule to make a man returne vnto God as the due knowledge and consideration of the vnspeakable riches of Gods mercy and therefore it is no maruell though the Prophet here doe vse this as one forcible reason to stir vp men to make their returne vnto God by vnfained repentance for that he will bee ready to Heale our sores and Bind vp the bleeding wounds of our soules which we haue made by sinne if we will repent and returne vnto him And indeed this is one of the maine differences betwixt the godly and the wicked The iustice of God doth sometimes so farre preuaile with the wicked as that they feare and tremble but it is not for the losse of Gods fauour but for feare of torment But on the contrary the goodnesse and mercy of God doth euen cause the seruants of God to quake and to tremble lest by any means they should depriue themselues of the comfortable enioying of his loue according to that of the Prophet Dauid Psal 130.4 There is mercy with thee O Lord that thou mayest be feared Oh blessed feare when the mercy of God doth beget it in a mans Soule So then we see that the mercy of God is infinite his compassion is higher then the heauens it is the greatest dishonour done vnto God that can be to doubt of his fauour and to call his louing kindnesse into question Let vs build vp his promises as a sure foundation that shall neuer be remoued Heauen and Earth shall passe away but his word shall not passe away We haue the Word and the Oath of God as two vnchangeable Witnesses so that it is impossible he should lye or be deceyued Againe we haue the Sacraments of God as two Authenticke Seales to ratifie his promises and to make them most sure vnto vs. Mat. 5.18 Heb. 6.18 Rom. 8.16 And we haue withall the earnest penny as a pawne left vnto vs and all to assure vs of his fauour and loue and therefore this reason of the Church and people of God drawne from the mercy of God seeing that he is so ready to pardon sinne and to entertain poore penitent sinners that sue to him for mercy it ought to be most forceable vnto vs to moue vs to Returne vnto him Now let vs come to the vses First seeing that the Lord as hee doth wound vs chastice man for sinne so it is he alone that is the spirituall Vse 1 Physitian of our soules Hence then we are directed to whom to seeke for remedy euen vnto God alone who as he wounds so he heales as he breaketh asunder so hee bindeth vp If a man haue some dangerous disease in his body or other deadly wound if hee know any man to be of skill and a faithfull Chirurgion he will seeke to him and let him out and laâ—nce him Well this is our case we bee spiritually sicke euen vnto eternall death in regard of ourselues our soules be grieuously and dangerously wounded what shall we now doe but runne to Iesus Christ the blessed Physitian of our soules who is most able and willing to cure vs and heale vs And as the poore Begget vnlaps his legges and shewes his grieuous sores to those that passe by and all to moue compassion So let vs not be ashamed to lay open our soules to Iesus Ghrist let vs confesse our grieuous and manifold sinnes Let vs not be ashamed to let him see our spirituall wounds but let vs make our moane to him and craue his help and begge as for life death for the pardon of them and if wee can get but one drop of his precious bloud it will bee a plaister to heale our wounds and cure the deadly diseases of our soules When the children of Israel had grieuously sinned Num. 21. the Lord sent fierie Serpents amongst them now many of them by the stinging and biting of them were so inflamed that they died and could not be cured But when they repented and cryed to God in their misery behold he commaunds that Moses should make a brazen Serpent set it vpon hie that so many as were stung with those fiery Serpents might cast their eyes immediately vpon that brazen Serpent and so might bee cured Euen so all of vs are stung by the fiery Serpents of our sinnes and we newly wallowing in the bloud of our soules Yet see Oh see the mercy of God who hath giuen vnto vs his owne sonne who is the brazen
Serpent to cure our soules for no other creature in heauen or earth could heale vs or helpe vs but hee must be our Physitian to make a plaister to heale our wounds the pains that he tooke to temper this plaister it made him sweat both water and bloud and in the end when nothing else could doe it Luke 23. hee was content to temper a plaister of his owne heart bloud such a blessed Sauiour such a louing Physitian haue we Oh then let vs runne to Iesus Christ let vs make our moane vnto him let vs not feare to lay open our wounded soules and distressed consciences vnto him who is so louing and mercifull a Physitian to poore distressed soules Art thou an hard hearted and an impenitent sinner thou art sicke at the very heart thou art wounned by sinne and Sathan vnto eternall death though thou see it not yet thy poore soule is ready to bleede vnto eternall death See Oh see heere Iesus Christ thy Sauior he offers himself to become the Physitian hee hath tempered a plaister that is able to heale thy sicke soule if thou wilt come vnto him Alas wilt thou then runne on in sinne and suffer thy poore soule to rot and fester with sinne and contemne the mercy of God and the kindnesse of Iesus Christ who offers to heale thee and to helpe thy wounded soule The poore man which fell among theeues who spoyled him and wounded him and left him for halfe dead Luk. 10. alas what had becom of him if the good Samaritan had not come by and pittied him Sinne and Sathan hath spoyled vs and wounded vs body and soule Now alas what shall become of vs if that Iesus Christ the good Samaritan and blessed Physitian of our soules doe not pitty vs bind vp our wounds and powre in the oyle of grace into our hearts to cure our sicke and wounded soules but hee is so pittifull and tender hearted a Chirurgion that he will pull off the rotten ragges of our sinnes and lap them vp in the most precious white robe of his owne righteousnes and poure into them the oyle of grace euen his owne deare and precious heart bloud to our euerlasting comfort and saluation Secondly wee obserue hence a further vse that if Vse 2 any do perish through their sinnes and transgressions he must not impute the fault therof vnto God but vnto himself for God doth cal men from their euill waies that so they might not perish but bee saued the Prophet Dauid doth speake excellently of this saying The Lord is full of compassion and mercy slow to anger and of great kindnesse Hee hath not dealt with vs after our sinnes nor rewarded vs according to our iniquities Psal 103. for as high as the heauen is aboue the earth so great is his mercy towards them that feare him As farre as the East is from the West so farre hath hee remoued our sinnes from vs As a father hath compassion on his children so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him But some may obiect say that it is true the mercy of God is exceeding great indeed but the sinnes that I haue committed against God haue not beene so much sinnes of weakenesse or sinnes of infirmity as they haue beene presumptuous horrible sinnes yea multitudes of them besides all this I haue continued a long time in them tenne twenty thirty or more yeares together and therefore I may well doubt whether the Lord hath any mercy for me Esay 1.18 Marke therefore what the Lord himselfe sayth vnto such Come let vs reason together sayth the Lord though your sinnes were as Crimson they shal be made as white as Snow and though they be as Scarlet they shall be as wooll So that no man can say without iniury against his owne soule and giuing the lye vnto the glorious maiesty of God My sinne is greater then can be forgiuen True it is that the Scripture makes mention of an vnpardonable sinne that shall neuer bee forgiuen eyther in this world Mat. 12.31 or in the world to come The blasphemy against the spirit but that is not in respect of the sinne it selfe that it should exceed the mercies of God or for that God is not able to forgiue it but because they cannot relent and repent that commit it they are so farre gone that they can neuer Returne backe again for as no sinne is so small but is able to plunge vs down to the bottome of hell if wee liue in it without repentance so no sinne is so great and grieuous but vpon repentance there is pardon and mercy to bee found with God yet men must take heed that they abuse not Gods goodnesse and mercy as an occasion of liberty to turne his grace into wantonnesse saying as the manner of some is Oh God is mercifull hee is gracious to great and grieuous sinners and so conclude thereupon that they may liue as they list and so deferre their repentance and Returne vnto God till the last gaspe but the holy Apostle will teach vs an other vse of Gods mercy then so when he sayth Despisest thou the riches of his bountifulnesse and patience Rom. 2.4 and long sufferance not knowing that the bountifulnesse of God should lead thee to repentance So that do wee heare of the patience of God the mercy of God and the long suffering of God Oh what may it teach vs all but this lesson especially to make haste and to deferre no time to returne vnto him for what is God so mercifull and so patient that hee hath spared thee so long and giuen thee so large a time of repentance Oh then how iust and how great shall thy condemnation bee if thou reiect it and make no other vse of it then to boulster thee in thy sinnes but of this before Last of all hete is matter of consolation to all the children of God that are deiected and cast downe with the sense and feeling of their sinnes their soules being heauy and their consciences oppressed with their sin they goe drouping and hang down their heads well let them cheare vp their soules such they are that Christ calleth Math. 11.28 Come vnto mee all yee that are weary and laden and I will ease you for my yoke is easie and my burthen is light When our terrors and temptations grow thus strong vpon vs and that Sathan shall seeke to perswade vs that our sinnes are more then God can forgiue and the punishment that is due vnto vs for them is greater then can be pardoned What shall wee doe at this time but labour herein to discouer the Arch-enemy of our soules Sathan who thus as a lying spirit seekes to draw vs from this doctrine of Gods mercy to plunge our soules into the gulfe of desperation but if our sinnes bee neuer so great haue wee committed them without number haue we committed them neuer so long bee they as Crimson double dyed sinnes as infectious
quicken vs else we cannot thinke a good thought and as the Lord must beginne grace in our hearts so hee must continue it and increase it and therefore it is sayd heere Reu. 20.6 He shall rayse vs vp and make vs able to walke in the duties of pietie and religion of faith and repentance and sincere obedience Holy and blessed are they that haue part in the first Resurrection for on them the second Death hath no power If then God hath begunne to Reuiue thee to Rayse thee out of the graue of sinne Oh then thou art blessed and happy for thou mayest bee sure that the second death that is eternall death shall haue no power ouer thee but as for those which are yet in the state of Nature vnregenerate not Reuiued not quickned by the life of grace Alas alas they bee at the next dore to eternall death And vnlesse they seeke vnto the Lord by true and vnfained repentance that hee may Reuiue their dead Soules and Rayse them vp from the graue of sinne they must needs perish eternally And therefore vntill such time as the Lord shall Reuiue vs and that wee shall feele the power of Christs death within vs dye to sinne whatsoeuer the vaine and foolish perswasion of our hearts may be yet we are in a most cursed and wretched estate and condition And in the third day hee will rayse vs vp These words containe in them the second degree of their deliuerance where wee may see that there Doct. 5 bee degrees of our spirituall life Regeneration begun must be continued As we see a child first learnes to stand alone then to goe in the hands of the Nurse and after comming to more strength to walke alone So fareth it with Gods Children First the Lord must Reuiue and quicken vs else we cannot thinke a good thought and as the Lord must begin grace in our hearts so hee must continue it and increase it and therefore it is sayd heere Hee shall raise vs vp and make vs to walke in the duties of Piety and religion of Faith Repentance and true obedience So that the point of Doctrine which wee are to obserue hence is this that the worke of Regeneration begunne in vs must bee continued and dayly more and more encreased so as wee may feele the power of the Spirit dayly subduing sinne in vs 2. Cor. 7.1 our naturall corruption and carnall affections that are so deepely rooted in vs by nature It is the exhortation of the blessed Apostle Heb. 6.1 That wee cleanse our selues from all filthinesse of the Flesh and Spirit and grow vp vnto full holinesse in the feare of God And the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews exhorts men not to satisfie them selues with the Principles of Religion which hee calleth the Doctrine of the beginning of Christ as though it were inough that they had made an entrance and a beginning but that they bee ledde forward to Perfection q. d. It is true you haue begunne well yet yee must thinke that it is not sufficient but there is a kind of perfection to bee aymed at And Paul speaking of the excellent estate of a Christian Phil. 3.13.14 sayth I count not my selfe that I haue attayned it And yet Paul was wonderfully expert in the mystery of Christ But one thing I doe sayth hee I forget that which is behind and I endeuour my selfe to that which is before and follow hard towards the marke for the price of the highest calling of God in Christ Iesus 2. Tim. 3.13 It is noted as a brand of a wicked man that hee waxeth worse and worse Deu. 29 19. and fals away dayly more from one extremity to another adding Drunkennes to thirst whereas on the contrary part It is a true note of the spirit of God in a man when they grow in grace and are led nearer and nearer to perfection And this same spirituall growth in grace and in godlines is not in mans power by nature to performe no more then the beginning thereof as we heard before but it is the proper worke of the holy Ghost 1. Thess 5.23 The very God of peace sanctifie you through out It cannot come from our parents For who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse Iob. 13. Iob. 1.16 but Of his fulnesse wee all receiue grace for grace It is a point no doubt well knowne vnto vs in speculation that we are to goe on from one degree of sactification to another from one measure of grace to another and therefore I forbeare any further to enlarge the point This may serue to reproue those that thinke they haue got knowledge inough into their soules like the Vse 1 Church of Laodicea Reu. 3.16 and are not ashamed many times to cloake their owne neglect of holy duties to say that they know as much as the best Preacher of them all And indeed were it not so that men were so perswaded that for matters of religion they were forward inough and had learned inough It could not be that they should make so little account of the means to bring them vnto more perfection How is it possible that they should not bee ashamed of themselues to bee found out of Gods house on the Saboath day and to make their chimney corners their Chappell of ease And how could it bee that they should be now as ignorant in the grounds of Religion as they were many yeares agoe Alas how can this holde good with this Text of Scripture that those that are once reuiued by God and quickned by the Spirit of grace that they are also Raysed vp that is dayly more and more drawn away from the earth and earthly things to Seeke those things that are aboue Oh let vs looke vnto our owne wayes betimes And turne our feet into his Testimonies And when we perceiue in vs any beginning or inclination to seeke after grace resolue with Dauid to Runne the way of Gods commandements Psal 119. Not to go forward is to go backward in Religion And howsoeuer the gift of Regeneration the spirit of grace can neuer vtterly be extinguished and lost yet when wee grow not in it it is iust with God that wee should lose the comfort of that grace and the feeling of that ioy wee were wont to finde in the same and wee can neuer recouer it without much sorrow and griefe of heart Let vs therefore remember that exhortation of the Holy Ghost Hee that is holy let him bee more holy and not to content our selues with the beginning of grace Reu. 22.11 but labour to goe on in grace from one degree to another till at last wee become perfect men in Christ Iesus Vse 2 Secondly wee are taught here that if it bee so dangerous a thing not to goe forward in religion what a fearefull sinne must it needs be then to grow backeward in holy things Luk. 11.26 Their last estate sayth
of God wrought in the hearts of his children alone as being powred into the breast of any man or woman it will purge from sinne and dead works it will quicken our dead benummed soules it will worke the mortification of the flesh and enable vs dayly more and more to obey the will of God in holinesse and righteousnesse and lastly that this Knowledge is durable and permanent not onely for this life but also for the life to come Oh let vs then euery one of vs in the feare of God try examine our selues whether wee haue in vs the knowledge of God yea or nay If wee find the same to be in vs by the notes and properties of it as abouesaid wee bee then blessed and happy wee bee in the right way to eternall life nay this blessed Knowledge will put vs into reall possession of eternal life and the saluation of our poore soules But diddest thou neuer find this blessed knowledge as yet in thy heart but in stead therof thy mind full of ignorance Thy will froward and rebellious thy affections louing and delighting in sinne and vncleannesse Alas thou art then in a most cursed and miserable estate thou abidest in death in danger of eternall damnation And yet if wee trie our selues it will appeare that most men and women haue not this sauing Knowledge in them but liue in a most palpable ignorance notwithstanding these clear sun-shine dayes of the Gospell Vse 3 Againe is this knowledge such an excellent gift grace of God that it puts men into a reall possession of eternall life Oh how should men therefore labour and study for this knowledge all the dayes of our life If a man haue all the knowledge in the world and yet want this knowledge namely that hee hath not this knowledge to know God the Father to be his Father God the Son to bee his Redremer and the Spirit of God to bee his Sanctifier all other knowledge is but carnall and shall not profite him to saluation Wee see men can bee content to take great paines to study for worldly knowledge the knowledge of the tongus of Arts and Sciences the knowledge of Philosophy of Trades and Occupations and that to maintaine a temporall life And shall wee which bee Christians take no paines to study the word and to heare it preached and taught vnto vs thereby to attaine to this blessed knowledge which shall last for euer and euer and neuer leaue vs till it bring vs to eternall life And yet alas wee see that most men and women are so bewitched with the loue of the world and earthly things which are but momentany and last but for a time that they eyther contemn or at least they neglect this blessed Knowledge of God and of Christ which will make them happy and blessed for euermore this they neuer seeke for nor will not put their heads out of their dores to come to heare the Word whereby they might attaine to this knowledge but let such carnall men and women know that they contemning this knowledge of Christ heere hee will likewise contemne them hereafter and say vnto them Depart from mee yee cursed I know you not Seeing this knowledge thus to know God the Father Vse 4 to bee our Father Christ his Son our Sauiour Redeemer the Spirit of God our Comforter Sanctifier is the right way to eternall life and puts our Soules in reall possession of the Kingdome of heauen then all they which want this knowledge must needs abide in death they liuing in blindnesse and ignorance of God and his Word the Deuill must needs carry them blindfold to perdition for the want of this knowledge is it that brings men to eternall confusion Alas poore miserable soules when wisdome comes and cries at our dores and yet men shall most vngratefully contemne this Knowledge and refuse instruction and trample this precious pearle vnder foot Surely these men and women bee they what they will bee they doe voluntarily strippe themselues of eternall life nay like blind Bayards they run their poore soules into the pitte of Hell before they be aware and therefore in the feare of God if wee neuer had this Knowledge of God as yet Now let vs labour for it if wee haue it then let vs labour that it may become effectuall vnto vs to purge vs to quicken vs to change vs that it bee not idle and naked Hitherro haue I shewed the nature and propertie of this knowledge Now because this knowledge is so excellent so heauenly and diuine therefore it must Doct. 3 needs haue an excellent obiect What then is the obiect or the thing that wee must know Surely this knowledge is not of Arts and Sciences It is God himselfe that is the obiect of a sanctified knowledge it is not the knowledge of tongues it is not the knowledge of Philosophy and of the nature of things all which are commendable in themselues but the thing which wee must know and which is the obiect of this heauenly and blessed knowledge it is God himselfe This is taught by our blessed Sauiour Io. 17.3 2. Cor. 13. â— This is life eternall that they know thee the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ And this knowledge is so needfull so necessary that our hearts can neuer be ridde of the occasion of feare of our reprobation till wee doe know God the Father God the Sonne and God the Holy Ghost with their distinct offices Obiect Obiect But alas how can we which liue in darknes attaine to the knowledge of God who inhabiteth in that light which none can attaine vnto Answer Certaine it is that this knowledge of the true God is not attained vnto by nature Answere it is not in any man as hee is a natural man to attain to this heauenly knowledge Rom. 8.7 let naturall education bee neuer so good and men neuer so excellent in witte or vnderstanding or any other gift of nature no no flesh and bloud can neuer attaine to this heauenly knowledge of the true God But this knowledge thus to know the true God is the proper gift of Iesus Christ alone put into our hearts by the finger of his owne spirit according to that of the Prophet Esay Esay 53 11. By his knowledge shall my righteous seruant iustifie many And againe No man knoweth the Father but the Sonne Mat. 11.27 and he to whom the Sonne will reueale him Obiect Obiect But how doth Iesus Christ the Sonne of God reueale his Father vnto vs makes him known to sinful men Ans Answere Iesus Christ reueales this Knowledge vnto vs which is eternal life by the finger of his owne blessed Spirit Paul may plant Apollo may water 1. Cor. 3.6 but God alone giues the encrease The Preaching of the Word it is the ordinary means to beget this sauing Knowledge But men can onely preach to the outward eares it is the spirit of God
the fore-runner of some fearefull iudgement vnto the soule of that man I haue cut them downe by my Prophets I haue slaine them by the words of my mouth IN that the Lord doth threaten this iudgement of al Doct. 4 other as the greatest that hee could bring vpon them namely to Cut them downe and to slay them The Word of God is able to pearce the hardest heart and that not by an ordinary meanes or slaughter but by his Prophets and Word that is that he would make good his Word in their mouthes and bring to passe all those terrible and fearefull iudgements that they had denounced against them from the Lord. Hence we see the great power of the Word of God it is able to pearce the hardest heart that is The word of God makes mention of two sorts of swords The sword of the mouth and the materiall sword as that place in the Hebrewes The Word of God is liuely and mighty in operation and sharper then a two edged sword Heb. 4.12 entereth thorough euen vnto the diuiding asunder of the Soule and the Spirit and of the Ioynts and the Marrow and is a decerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart The people of the Iewes before that Peter spake vnto them were full of hardnesse of heart yea their hearts before were as hard as steele nothing could pricke or pearce them Act. 2.37 they had committed monstrous murder they shed innocent bloud euen the bloud of the sonne of God and yet they were neuer touched in their hearts for that sinne But when Peter came with his weapon namely the Word of God and told them that they were those that had crucified the Lord of life this wounded them to the quicke as that they cryed out in the bitternesse of their loules O men and brethren what shall wee doe to bee saued Oh tell vs tell vs whether there be not some course yet to be taken that wee that haue beene such desperate sinners might yet againe obtaine Gods fauour and bee saued This was a blessed battel that was fought with them behold then in them the wonderfull power of the Word of God It cuts the throat of sinne and makes men become dead vnto sinne that they might become a liue vnto God Ier. 23.29 Is not the Word of Iehouah like vnto fire It is able to melt and mollifie a heart of steele it is like a hammer that breakes the hardest stone euen so this Word of God is able to bruise a stony heart which is as hard as flint Rom. 15.16 I am not ashamed sayth the Apostle of the Gospell of God because I know that it is the power of God to saluation to all them that beleeue 1. Cor. 1.21 Yea it is compared to a sacrificing knife Ephes 2.1.2 which will kill and cut the throat of sinne and make the most rebellious heart to breake It will put spirit and life in the dead hearts of dead secure sinners euen such as lay dead rotting in sin If it enter not into thee to the rooting out of sinne and the cutting downe of thy vncleannesse for then it pearceth for thy good to life eternall It wil bee sure to wound and to pearce thy dead and benummed soule to the hardning of thee in thy sinnes to death eternall Esay 55. for it neuer returnes in vaine but is eyther the sauor of life vnto life or the sauor of death vnto death The Lord sent his word vnto Pharaoh againe and againe by Moses and Aaron but hee would not bee humbled by it Exod. 9. â—7 1. Reg. 22.8 therefore hee became the more hardned in sinne And Ahab was then the deadliest enemy to his owne soule Mich. 2.7 when hee hated Michai for not speaking to his fantasie but warned him faithfully of the iudgement which afterward came vpon him Zach. 7.11 The Word of God is an aduersary to none but to such as are aduersaries to themselues Note this well neyther doth it condemne any but such as without repentance assuredly shall one day bee condemned of the Lord. And therefore let the wicked wretches of the world stoppe their eares neuer so much from the hearing of the threatnings of the Word yet they shall neuer stoppe that iudgement which the Word hath threatned There is a cry that will come at Midnight and will waken the dead But Oh blessed are they who in time are wakened out of the sleepe of their sinnes before that dreadfull iudgement come This serues to commend vnto vs the excellencie Vse 1 and power of the Word of God which is able both to kill sinners and to make them aliue again and puts a manifest difference hetweene the Word of man the Word of God All the wisdom learning eloquence and wit of men is not able to wound the hard heart of a wicked obstinate and rebellious sinner onely the Word of God can doe it euen the plaine and simple preaching of the Word can doe it 1. Cor. 1.21 Psal 19. The Law of the Lord is perfect to conuert the soule There is more power in the plaine rude and simple preaching of the Word of God to conuert a sinner then in the most learned and excellentest eloquence in men nay Rom. 10.14.15 it is impossible for all the eloquence in the World to saue a Soule it is peculiar onely to the simple preaching of the Gospell nor all the Writings of men cannot turne the heart vnto God vnlesse the Lord doe blesse the preaching of the Word to doe it and though nothing bee so contrary to our Nature as the Word of God yet nothing is so powerfull to conuert as is this word by Gods blessing vpon it being his owne ordinance appointed to that end Secondly seeing the Word of God is of this power Vse 2 that it will enter and pearce into stony hearts and seeing if it cut not downe sinne and corruption it will wound to death eternall all rebellious and hard hearted sinners Oh then let vs submit our hearts vnto it let vs suffer the Word to pearce and wound our hearts for sinne to cut downe all sinne and corruption in vs here or else it will bee the Lords Sword of the Spirit to kill vs and to wound vs to death eternall Ephes 6.1 Hee will smite the earth with the rodde of his mouth and slay the wicked and rebellious with the breath of his lippes that is the Lord will make good all those feareful iudgements which his seruants haue denounced against them in his name Esay 11.4 And as the raine that fals makes the earth more fruitfull or else more barren so it fareth with the Word it eyther cuts downe sinne to our amendment or else leaues most deadly wounds in our soules euen to death eternall Now then seeing the Word of God is so powerfull Oh how should this stirre vp euery man and woman to the hearing of
off their sinnes which were preuented by death and neuer performed the same Yea although thou diddest know that thou shouldest liue long yet oughtest thou to repent soone for then is thy repentance most acceptable to God when thou doest offer it in the prime of thy youth and in the flower of thy age In the sacrifices of the Lord Deu. 15.21 Mal. 1. Pro. 1. Mat. 25.11 they were commanded to offer a Male of a yeare olde withou spot and blemish and they that offered the blinde and the lame were reproued How then should the Lord accept of thy crooked sacrifice of olde age which is as lame and blind before God and the Lord doth seldome accept of it Nay it is rather most iust with God that at the last hee should reiect vs and our prayers who haue before contemned him in the strength of our yeares when that God did cry and call vnto vs. Oh what yelling and crying wil there bee at the last Lord Lord open vnto vs. When that heauy Depart from mee yee cursed I know you not shall bee their portion Oh that men were wise then would they consider their latter end Let vs looke vnto the practise of men in temporall affayres and learne to bee wise What makes the husbandman to breake his sleepe to rise vp so earely and to bee so diligent in plowing digging and sowing Aske him and hee will tell thee the season requires it and the time lost cannot bee redeemed And shall wee thinke that wee haue repentance at commaund no no thou mayest seeke it at last euen with teares Heb. 12.17 as Esau did and yet goe without it if thou omittest the season time when God doth now offer the same vnto thee Let this that hath bin spoken serue for the confirmation of the euerlasting truth of this Doctrine that men must defer no time to repent to turn vnto the Lord. Now let vs see some reasons that may enforce the same The first reason shewing the necessity of timely repentance Reasons to shew the necessity of timely repentance may bee taken from the great vncertainty of mans life if hee omit the present occasion when it is offered for God doth call home from his worke some in the morning some at noone and some at night For as his Labourers enter into his Vineyard so they goe out that is in such manner and at such howres Mat. 20 1.2. c some dye in the dawning of their life passing as it were from one graue to another some dye in their youth as in the third howre some at middle age and some stay vntill the euening of mans yeares that is old age yet more before ten then after threescore Luk. 12.20 Gen. 6. That rich man in the Gospell that promised vnto himselfe many yeares to come had in a moment of time his soule taken from him The old world neuer thought themselues more freer or surer from vengeance then when they were eating drinking Luk. 17.27 marrying wiues c. But then did the iudgements of God ouertake them The morning was fayre when Lot went out of Sodom Gen. 19.23 and yet before night lay Sodom in ashes Herod was well when he beganne his Oration to the people but by and by after Act. 12.23 1. Thes 5.3 the Angell of the Lord stroke him that hee was eaten vp of worms and so gaue vp the Ghost What then is our life and how vaine and false is our hope of long life Shall any say with Agag Surely the bitternesse of death is past 1. Sam. 15.32 because wee dye not so soone as others when wee heare a solemne knell we say some body is departed and why should we not thinke that the feet of them who carryed out that body is at the dore to carry vs out also Act. 5.9 so that if wee deferre our repentance but one day yea but one houre we haue no warrant to assure vs that wee can repent the next but that the Lord may preuent vs by death and so we perish Secondly if wee slip the oportunity of well doing when God doth offer the same vnto vs we shall bee more vnapt and vnfit afterwards whilest the waxe is plyable it is the fittest time to set on the seale whereas if it coole againe it will then hardly receiue any impression Euen so if our hearts euer beginne to soften and to yeeld if wee now resist the spirit of God and the worke of grace we shall hardly haue the like oportunity againe as at the first And therefore that which Salomon exhorteth in the case of vowes is to bee practised of all holy purposes and good desires Eccl. 5.3 Wee must not deferre nor bee flacke to performe them And this hath beene carefully practised of the godly Psal 119.60 Dauid sayth of himselfe I haue considered my wayes and turned my feet into thy testimonies I made hasâ—â— Luk. 19.6 Act. 8.36 and prolonged not the time to keep thy commandements Dauid doth not take any dayes with God like a bad debter day after day and keepe none of them but whatsoeuer good duty hee had purposed in his heart he would presently performe the same Zacheus came downe hastely and receyued Christ ioyfully The Eunuch being instructed in the sauing knowledge of his saluation by the preaching of Philip so soone as euer he name where water was hee would be baptized land receiue the Seale of grace and as this care is to bee had of euery Christian in the performance of all holy duties so especially in the worke of repentance because the longer a man doth put off his repentance the harder will it bee for him to performe the same at last Ier. 13.23 Can the Blacke-More change his skin or the Leopard his spots Then may they do good that haue beene accustomed to doe euill The Prophet doth account it as a thing almost impossible for a man that hath a long time continued in sinne to leaue the same and to become a good man at the last Oh when sinne growes vp with a man it will grow at the last to bee so inward with him as his dearest friend and being so long acquainted together and bred in the bone they will handly part or out of the flesh Oh that men would consider this that the custome of sinne causeth a hardning in sinne for so sayth the Apostle Rom. 2.5 Thou after thine hardnesse and heart that cannot repent heapest vnto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath And that custome will adde to nature turne sinne vnto nature that a man can bee no more without it then his naturall food This is the danger that those are in that defer their repentance the harder is their recouery at the last Reas 3 Thirdly and lastly all our seruice whatsoeuer is onely due vnto the Lord our selues our soules and bodies and all that wee haue the Lord doth iustly challenge
the Kingdome of Heauen where we be free Denizens And as Pilgrimes behaue themselues in an Inne they stay not seuen or eight yeares but a night or two and so are gone So must not wee settle our dwelling heere where we are but Pilgrimes but in heauen our dwelling place must our conuersation bee as if now we were in Heauen and in the presence of God And as a stranger being farre from home desires to come to his owne house thinks euer of his Wife and Children and of his own land liuing So must we heere being in a strange country thinke of our home desire still to see the face of God and of Christ our most blessed Redeemer that so wee may liue in his blessed presence Seeing this is a speciall note of a man truely regenerate and that hath truely repented to behaue Vse 1 himselfe as in the presence of God as in his sight so as hee dares doe nothing that may offend the eyes of God This shewes most plainely that most men and women are farre from true repentance and were neuer borne a new Seeing many will make conscience of sin in the sight of men which yet make no bones to commit it in the sight of God What man is so shamelesse to commit Adultery in the sight of men yet there bee many that feare not nor blush not to commit it in the sight of God Saint Paul saith They steale commit Adulterie and do all euill in the night Alas Phil. 4.5 night and day bee all alike to God the Lord is at our elbowes and therefore let vs remember this and as wee would not dare to commit any vnseemely thing in the presence of the King so let vs not dare to commit sin in the presence of God Men will looke carefully to their behauiour while they are in the presence of the Prince or temporal Magistrate though otherwise wicked and godlesse men yet in the presence of the Prince they will abstaine from euill Oh that wee were as carefull to behaue our selues in the most glorious presence of the great King of heauen and earth who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Hee sees all wee doe heares our words pierces into the secrets of our hearts neyther can the least though of ours escape the piercing eye of the Almighty and therefore we should labour to watch ouer al our works words yea ouer the very thoughts of our hearts that they may be sincere and such as we need not be ashamed of for bee wee wel assured that wee shall giue account of the very thoughts of our hearts yea of euery idle word how much more of blasphemous oathes and most monstrous sinnes The theefe steales in the night the drunkard is drunke in the night and the filthy person commits his vncleannesse in the night and they thinke they bee sure who sees them who can accuse them Oh thy God sees thee thou standest in his presence hee heares sees all thou doest and though thou mayest keepe it close from the eyes of men yet thou canst not hide it from the eyes of the Almighty who wil one day call thee to an account for the same VERSE 3. Then shall wee haue knowledge and indeuour our selues to know the Lord his going forth is prepared as the morning and he shall come vnto vs as the raine and as the latter raine vnto the earth IN this third verse wee haue heere described vnto vs two other most heauenly and blessed effects of sound repentance Two other effects of true repentance set downe and true conuersion vnto the Lord. First that all those which doe vnfainedly mourne for their sinnes and the pardon of them at the hands of God as for life and death the Lord will not onely comfort their wounded soules but enable them by the gracious worke of his holy and sanctifying Spirit to liue holily in his sight but hee will with all poure into their soules this heauenly and blessed Knowledge which shall direct them to the true seruice and worship of God And secondly if wee doe draw neare vnto God by true repentance the Lord likewise though he defer his helpe for a time yet in the end will come assuredly with most pleasant and effectuall comfort which is described vnto vs by two most excellent similitudes First of the chearefull breaking foorth of the Sun after a tempestuous storme Secondly by the latter raine distilling vpon the scorched earth by both of which the Lord will shew that he is ready in due time to comfort the distressed soule and conscience of a poore sinner Then shall wee haue knowledge and endeuour our selues to know the Lord. Text diuided IN these words being the first part of the Verse wee are to obserue three speciall points First the roote from the which this true sauing and heauenly knowledge is deriued and the fountaine from the which it doth spring in this word Then Secondly wee are to search and to trie what maner of knowledge this is heere spoken of by the Holy Ghost It is not carnall knowledge it is not any worldly knowledge it is no Philosophicall Knowledge or the knowledge of humane Arts and Sciences But this knowledge heere spoken of is a spirituall knowledge a diuine knowledge an heauenlie knowledge a sauing knowledge which is of that nature and quality that it puts all those which haue it into a reall possession of eternall life It is the way to eternall life it is the Key to open the gate of heauen vnto vs and it is as it were the finger of God that puts vs into reall possession of eternall life Thirdly wee haue to consider another special fruit or quality of this sauing Knowledge that it will neuer suffer those men and women which haue this Knowledge put into their hearts by rhe finger of God to be content with a little or a scant measure of this knowledge but it is of that diuine nature that it wil whet them on and inflame their hearts to hunger and thirst after a great measure and portion of this heauenly and blessed Knowledge so as it will make men to labour and to endeauour to come to a greater measure of it To grow in grace and in the knowledge of Iesus Christ And first of all for the root from whence this true sauing and heauenly Knowledge is deriued Point and the fountaine from which it doth spring it is layde downe in this word Then shall wee haue Knowledge that is Repentance goes before sanctified knowledge when men are truly humbled for their sins do mourn for them and when that men haue the feare of God before their eyes so as they liue as in the presence of God and looke carefully to themselues not only outwardly in regard of their words and works but euen inwardly to the thoughts of their hearts and therein labour to bee approued of the Lord then will the Lord poure into their hearts this heauenly and
Oh let my soule bee free from this for To whom will I haue respect vnto sayth the Lord but to him that is of a contrite heart and trembles at my Word Esa 66.2.5 This Word is to the godly heart that is humbled for sinne the sweet sauor of life vnto life but to the seared heart the woful sauor of death vnto death and in this respect the Word is like to the thunderbolt the thunderbolt is of that nature that if it light vpon any soft matter it hurteth it not wounds it not nor breaks it not But if it fall vpon any hard matter as vpon a tree a stone wall it breakes it in peeces and rents it in sunder it will breake the bones and hurt not a mans flesh Euen so the Word of God it is of that nature that if it fall vpon a soft heart and tender heart it will doe it good it will comfort it and instruct it it will burne vp the drosse and filth of sin in that soft heart But if this thunderbolt of the Word of God light vpon a hard and stony heart it will wound it rend it yea kill it euen to eternall death vnlesse they repent This is the state of a wicked mans heart and therefore of al men he is most miserable Vse 2 Secondly doth the Word of God wound and kill to death eternall such rebellious and stubborne sinners doth it hurt none but such stony hearts doth the Lords thunderbolt kill none but stony hearts Oh then let vs intreat the Lord to free vs from this great and heauy iudgement of hardnesse of heart which makes the Word of God and all other meanes vnprofitable vnto vs and let vs labour to haue soft hearts broken hearts and brused hearts Oh let the Word of the Lord enter giue it passage that it may cut down sinne in thee that thy sinnes cut not thee down at the last Note this well for this bee thou sure of O man whatsoeuer thou bee that if thou find not out thy sinnes now they will bee sure to find out thee hereafter When the Lord speaketh of a great mercy that he would shew vnto a people hee sayth thus I will take away their stony hearts Ezech. 36.26 and I wil giue them hearts of flesh Oh that the Lord would take away our stony hearts and giue vs fleshy and tender hearts that his Word might not kill vs and slay vs to death eternall But alas though this hard heart bee the most grieuous iudgement of God that can befall a man in this life yet who thinks so of it who feeles it who complaines of it No no men and women haue no feeling of it yea though this hard heart and heauy iudgement of God raigne in most places and most men bee possessed with hardnes of heart and carnall security and so dead a sleepe in sinne that the Lord may thunder from heauen and his iudgements rattle about our eares yet by reason of this deadnesse and hardnesse of heart men are like the Smithes dogge sleepe still snort still though the flame and sparckles flie about his eares and sindge his haire and though men can complaine and rore at the paine of the stone in the Kidney and seeke send farre and neare for ease and say they are neuer able to endure it yet of this fearefull and most heauy iudgement The stone of the heart men feele no paine neuer cry for helpe to be eased of it Wee know Oh wee know euery man in his owne bosome the sinnes the which wee most secretly foster and will not let goe But as Saint Paul exhorteth the Iewes euen so will I you To conclude this Doctrine Take heed Heb. 3.13 Ezech. 36.26 Oh take heed lest in any of you there bee found a false and an euill heart to depart from the liuing God for of all the iudgements that Almighty God can lay vpon the sons of men this is the greatest from this estate the Lord of his endlesse mercy deliuer vs. Amen Amen Thirdly let vs marke heere how the Lord iudgeth Vse 3 of such as bee wounded and killed by his Word and cut downe by his iudgements published out of his Word the Lord accounts of this iudgement as that that is the most fearefull and terrible for the Lord heere inflicts it as the greatest punishment of all for their euill wayes their stubbornnesse and rebellion against the Lord and against all those gracious meanes that hee had vsed for their good for their hypocrisie and hardnesse of heart and the like horrible sinnes that were to bee found amongst them for the punishment of them all the Lord sayth I haue cut them downe and saine them but not with the sword not with the plague which are fearefull and terrible but with my Word q. d. I haue not onely taught and instructed you by my Word and shewed you what I would haue you to doe and what to leaue vndone but I haue by this plaine teaching of you and by my doctrine propounded vnto you euen pearced your very soules and consciences so as in spite of your teeth you must needs acknowledge though yee bee neuer so obstinate and rebellious that you haue been wounded and haue felt the force of my Word to kill you to conuince your consciences of your sinnes and rebellions and that my iudgements are most iustly brought vpon you Hence wee see what a fearefull iudgement of God it is for those which liue in sinne and delight in sinne when as they heare their sinnes condemned out of the Word of God they know that they doe euill they must needs confesse that the Word of the Lord hath conuicted their consciences of their sinnes and euill wayes so as they know it and haue felt their soules beaten and wounded and euen slaine by the power of the Word of God This is a grieuous sinne indeed to sinne against conscience to sinne against knowledge to sinne presumptuously with a high hand it is a high step to the sin against the Holy Ghost when men hearing and acknowledging the Word of God to bee true feele their consciences to checke them for their vile and wicked wayes and yet they will walke on still against knowledge and against conscience and so draw downe Gods iudgements vpon themselues Oh then if wee heare the Word of God and perceiue the Lord to touch our hard hearts so as we must needs acknowledge this Doctrine that the Lord smites thy hard and benummed heart as that thou canst say I am guilty of this sinne I heare God will punish it seuerely and cut me downe by his Word and slay mee I say Oh then especially take heed how thou liuest in thy sinne still against knowledge and against conscience It is the high way to the sinne against the Holy Ghost which cannot be pardoned but let vs rather leaue our sinnes and forsake them and take heed of going on in the same for certaine it is it is but
borne Thou wilt performe thy truth to Iacob Micha 7.20 and mercy to Abraham as thou hast sworne to our fathers in olde time Tit. 1.2 Psal 102.27 And as this was accomplished touching the comming of the Messias In the fulnesse of time So the same holds true concerning all other the promises of God made vnto his Church and people And the reason of all is this because God is of an vnchangeable nature Reason Mal. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not Whatsoeuer he hath sayd shall be done and whatsoeuer hee hath spoken shall bee accomplished For with him is no variablenesse nor shadow of change Vse 1 This checks those proud spirits and despisers of the Prophets of the Lord who esteeme of Gods seruants and messengers as the scumme of the world will not giue any credite to their Doctrine make iests of them and if they pronounce iudgements against sin Tush wee hope it is not so as these Preachers tell wee hope wee shall doe well enough for all their threatnings They haue denied the Lord and sayd It is not hee neyther shall the plague come vpon vs Ier. 5.12.13 neyther shall wee see sword nor famine And the Prophets shall bee as wind and the Word is not in them Like to them are many of our people amongst vs they make but a Tush of all those threatnings that Gods Ministers doe denounce against them in the name of the Lord till they come vpon them then they can acknowledge they had a fayre warning Read that place diligently in Zachariah and the Lord giue vs a right iudgement in all things Zacha. 1.4.5.6 the words are these Bee yee not as your Fathers vnto whom the former Prophets haue cryed saying Thus sayth the Lord of hostes Turne you now from your euill wayes and from your wicked works but they would not heare nor hearken vnto mee sayth the Lord Your Fathers where are they and doe the Prophets liue for euer But did not my words and my statutes which I commanded by my seruants the Prophets take holde of your Fathers and they confessed and sayd As the Lord of Hoasts hath determined to doe vnto vs according to our own wayes and according to our works so hath hee done vnto vs. See heere how the Lord sends these rebellious Iewes to former times euen to looke vpon Gods iudgements vpon their forefathers q. d. Though your Fathers bee dead yet my iudgements in punishing them ought still to be before your eyes and though the Prophets bee dead yet their Doctrine remaineth for euer Behold yee then the force of my Doctrine in punishing your Fathers and feare yee the threatnings contayned in the same and declared a fresh vnto you by my Prophets Oh may not this bee a fayre warning to vs that yet liue to admonish all those that despise the Word of the Lord in the mouthes of his Ministers to take heed how they contemne Gods faithfull Ministers which esteeme their words but as wind for if they speake in the name of the Lord and haue the Word for their varrant it shall certainely bee accomplished Shall I spare such a people sayth the Lord shall I not bee auenged on them Ier. 5.14 Behold fayth the Lord to his Prophet I will make my Word as fire in thy mouth and this people shall bee as wood and it shall deuoure them Euen so shall the Lord vse his Word in the mouthes of his Ministers as the sword of his Spirit to Cut down slay and will bring to passe his iudgements proclaymed by them so as all wicked and vngodly men at the last shall confesse and say Oh I had a fayre warning I was told of this long agoe if I had beene wise to beleeue it and now I see the Word of God is true in the mouthes of his Ministers Oh what shall become now of all rebellious and hard-hearted sinners who seeme to haue Made a Couenant with Death Esay 28.15 and an agreement with the graue which go on in sinne and feare no danger but what followeth Your Couenant with Death shall bee disanulled and your agreement with hell shall not stand c. Their hopes shall faile them in the end God will not bee mocked they shall bee sure to pay full deare for their contempt when it shall bee too late to amend Oh let vs not then harden our hearts through the deceitfulnesse of sinne Esay 55.6 but Let vs seeke the Lord while he may bee found and call vpon him while hee is neare Secondly wee are taught heere not to bee dismayed when wee see the wicked to prosper and to flourish heere spreading themselues as the greene Bay-tree Vse 2 for loe God doth set them in slippery places their damnation sleepeth not Gods iudgements are gone out against them they are determined with God there wants nothing but the execution of them the which in Gods due time shall bee accomplished euen by an irreuocable decree Now what if in the meane time they rufle it out with great words and shewes and who but they Alas their estates are rather to bee pittied then enuyed because Gods Word is against them their sinnefull courses and by it at the last they shall bee sure to bee Cut downe Psal 2. Pharaoh and the Egyptians may take crafty counsell together against the people of God But hee that dwelleth in heauen doth laugh them to scorne And this Pharaoh which seemed for a while to bee so terrible his end was most fearefull And what if Ahab and Iezabel plotte together and abuse their authority for the winding in of Naboths Vineyard into their owne posession and Naboth is slain 1. Reg. 21. Gods Word went out against him therfore by his Prophet Elias and it was not his walled Pallace that could keepe backe Gods iudgements A man that had seen Lazarus a poore begger Luk. 16.22 destitute of all helpe and comfort lying at the rich mans gate his mind possest with cares with his body full of sores whilest the rich man within was clad of the finest and fed of the daintiest a man I say that had beheld these rwo if hee had had no more then naturall reason would easily haue concluded the begger to bee miserable and the rich man to bee happy But God sees not as man sees neyther are his thoughts as mans thoughts for euen in this great misery of this poore begger hee was a happy and a blessed man notwithstanding the great pompe of the other in the middest of it all hee was but wretched and miserable Then let vs not rest in beholding the present face of outward things but possesse our soules with patience considering that All things happen alike to all Yet in the end it shall goe well with the iust And howsoeuer the wicked prosper wel in the world Psal 73.17 yet they are set but in slippery places Gods threatnings in Gods due time shal be inflicted vpon them
Couenant with our God when wee were baptized the Lord then receiued vs into the bosome of his Church vpon this condition that wee would become his people and walke in his wayes hee gaue vs his couenant a gracious couenant full of many gracious and heauenly promises of pardon of sinne of life eternall This Couenant hee sealed and confirmed by the heart bloud of his owne Sonne that he would bee our gracious God and louing Father that hee would pardon all our sinnes receiue vs to fauour and bestow eternall life and saluation vpon vs. Wee on the other side haue couenanted with our God that wee would bee his people and become his obedient seruants that wee would renounce the Deuill and all his works the stinking pleasures of the flesh and that wee would not suffer our selues to bee ruled by them but would manfully fight vnder the banner of our Lord Iesus Christ against the Deuill the world and the flesh Now if wee examine ourselues how wee haue kept this Couenant wee shall find that the Lord may iustly say vnto vs as hee did here vnto this people Yee haue broken my Couenant yea we haue denied our obedience to Christ Iesus and his Word and wee haue serued sinne and Sathan and the world Gods deadly enemies and we haue liued in pleasures in vanity in couetousnesse and in many other sinnes against our promise to God Oh then in the feare of God let vs take knowledge of this that wee are vile and miserable couenant breakers wee haue fayled in our promise to God and haue not walked in his wayes as wee haue made a solemne Couenant with him And now let it make vs ashamed that wee should deale thus vilely and decitfully with our most gracious God If it bee a matter of shame to breake couenant with an honest man and wee bee grieued for the same how much more should this grieue vs and make vs ashamed that wee haue dealt thus faithlesly with our gracious God And thirdlie as wee must bee grieued that wee Vse 3 haue thus fayled and broken our Couenant with God heretofore so now wee must bee more carefull to keepe our Couenant with him in time to come manfully to fight vnder his banner against sinne Sathan and the world his vtter enemies and yeeld him obedience in heart and life to deny all obedience to the Deuill and our owne lusts and say with the Prophet Dauid Psal 119 10â— I haue sworne and am stedfastly purposed to keepe thy righteous iudgements Oh let vs take a solemn oath of our selues and purpose both in heart life to keepe his righteous iudgements neuer to sinne against our God as wee haue done but in all things to do his will and to walke in his wayes And there is good reason to perswade vs hereunto for if wee shall keepe our Couenant made to God in our Baptisme then the Lord will take vs for his people and will bee our gracious God and louing Father then hee will performe all those gratious promises of pardon of sinne Deu. 28. and life eternall and euery other gracious promise that hee hath layde down in his Word for our good and the further increase of our happinesse it shall then goe well with vs in life in death and after death But if wee refuse to heare his voyce and will not regard our vow and couenant made to him in Baptisme then hee will withdraw his mercy and gratious protection from vs he is no longer tyed vnto vs to doe vs good then wee shall keepe his Couenant and then what shall become of vs if the Lord once forsake vs if hee leaue vs alas wee shal then lye open to all misery both of soule and body if God bee angry with vs who can do vs good Fourthly and lastly this may serue to reprooue Vse 4 those men that vpon some particular occasions as in time of warre sicknesse necessity trouble or any other danger haue beene ready to enter into couenant with God so that God would free them and deliuer them they will become new men if they haue fallen into whoredome or fornication they vow they will bridle their lusts and they will neuer delight in the Harlots company any more If they haue fallen into drunkennesse they will vow and enter couenant with God Luk. 14.8 that they will abstaine from the hatefull house of that sinne and all other prouocations to the same The Oppressor is ready to promise more mercy to the poore and so of all other sinnes Dan. 4.24 the sinner is ready to enter Couenant with God when his conscience is vpon the racke that hee will leaue his sinne and that for the time to come they will walke with God in better obedience so that God would but deliuer them set them on foot againe When a man hath most vainly and sinfully spent his time in drunkennesse riotousnesse idlenesse wantonnesse enuy hatred contempt of Gods Word c. If God strike such men with sicknesse as I haue known many that they haue feared death for vnto such is the remembrance of death a terror Oh how then doe they tremble and quake Note then send for Moses and Aaron in haste send for the Minister who before this time of all men they esteemed the most vile and then good people pray for me Oh I haue beene a great and grieuous sinner I haue offended God many wayes I haue been a most beastly drunkard a most vncleane liuer I haue dishonoured God many wayes by my vsury oppressing of the poore vniust and vnconscionable dealing with men by fraud and deceit I haue made no conscience at all how I haue spent the Sabbath but haue been at bowles and Tables or drinking in vaine company when I should haue beene present in the Congregation of Gods people Oh if God vvill but now forgiue mee this sinne onely I will neuer offend in the like againe I will become a new man for no mans pleasure will I be brought to dishonour God any more by these sinnes These and the like are the clamours and the crying out of many men when God doth touch them by sicknesse or some other calamity and then are they very forward to enter into Couenant with God euer to bee thankfull and obedient vnto him and then to begin their repentance and amendment of life But O alas is not this the best day that God hath of them and the best seruice that euer they performe vnto him It is it is for when God doth free them and set them at liberty 2. Pet. 2.1.2 they Turue with the Dogge to the vomite and with the Sowe to the mire Well God will neuer put vp this great ingratitude at their hands but being found to bee Couenant breakers with their God all those iudgements which Almighty God hath threatned against such sinners shall most surely come vpon them Deu. 28. and ouertake them Like Men. HEre is layde downe the manner
esteeme of his blessed Word and glorious Gospell that hee will euen remoue all from vs Shall we thinke that the Lord who thus seuerely plagued Gilead and Ierusalem these Cities that were so famous in the world that hee will spare vs but that he will doe to vs as he hath done to them and remoue the Candlesticke out of his place For the Lord caÌ„not abide or indure to see his most blessed word and glorious Gospell to be contemned and troden vnder foot Vse 3 Last of all seing the Lord expects that those places which hauing great meanes should bring foorth most fruit let vs labor to answere the Lords expectation heerein The Earth that drinketh in the raine that commeth oft vpon it Heb. 6.7 and bringeth foorth herbes meete for them by whom it is dressed receiueth blessing of Ged But that which beareth Thornes and Briers is depriued and is neere to cursing whose end is to be burned Oh then as wee desire a blessing and to be approued of God let the fruit of our hearing and profession appeare that wee beare not Thornes for then woe vnto vs but that we Tit. 2. Denie vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and liue soberly and iustly in this present world And is polluted with blood THe meaning is as I take it they were crafty to couer blood for when as a Murderer had slaine a man euen willfully and of a set purpose he would then flie to this City being a City of refuge and there the Priests who were put in trust to examine the matter how the murther was done whether wittingly of purpose and that vpon some old grudge or whether of ignorance against his will These Priests being couetous and greedy of gain would for a peece of money smooth ouer the matter they would shelter the wilful murderer and craftily hide his sinne which ought to haue beene punished with death because the Law was straight against this sinne Hee that shedeth mans bloud by man shall his bloud bee shed But they being couetous and not regarding Gods Law would hide his murder and shelter and shrowde it and couer it so craftily that hee should escape vnpunished and neuer come to his answere And for this very cause doth Almighty God charge this City with the bloud of these men and cals it a City polluted with bloud So then this being the sinne of these Priests for Doct. 3 gaine to iustifie the wicked and to couer his sinne for a golden fee. For no worldly respect must men bee drawne to peruert iustice Wee may conclude this third point of Doctrine that for no worldly respect whatsoeuer should men bee drawne to peruert iustice to colour sinne It was the sin of this City of the Priests and Leuites those which were put in trust from God to enquire and to finde out the wilfull Murderer euen to take Ioab from the â—ornes of the Altar that they should for money shew him fauour and couer his sinne and let murder escape vnpunished Deu. 16.8 It was a speciall precept that Moses gaue to the Magistrate Wrest not thou the Law nor respect any person neyther take reward for reward blind the eyes of the wise and peruerteth the words of the iust It was sayd of Balaam Num. 2.3 That hee had the reward of Soothsaying in his hands But Magistrates must not haue the reward of iniustice in their hands for as the Apostle condemnes those that make Marchandize of the Word of God so those are no lesse condemned that make Marchandize of Iustice Woe bee vnto him that iustifieth the wicked for reward Esay 5. and taketh away the righteousnesse of the righteous from him The Lord cannot indure that those whom hee hath placed in his stead as petty Gods vpon earth that they should turn the sword of Iustice to the hurt of the innocent and iustifying of the wicked We may note hence that it is a fearefull thing when Vse 1 men grow to bee cunning how to sinne and to be their crafts master for then men are boldned in sin and sin without controlment when they are so cunning that they can sinne smoothly and none shall see it that can steale so as no man can perceyue and commit whoredome vnder a Canopie when men grow cunning and crafty to hide their sinnes this is a dangerous thing for this will embolden such men in sinne it were farre better for a man if hee sinne to sinne so that hee know not how to couer it or cloake it for then hee will the sooner be brought to repentance then that hee know how to cloake and to couer the same and to keepe it from the knowledge of the world for howsoeuer in the opinion of the world they be the onely wise men that can smooth ouer their sins commit them so as none can see them or know them that bee their crafts master yet indeed of all other their case is most dangerous and there is little hope that they will leaue their sins and be ashamed for them for that their cunning and crafty hiding of their sinnes doth embolden them therein VERSE 9. And as theeues wayte for a man so the company of Priests murder in the way by consent for they worke mischiefe HEre the Prophet proceeds to more particular euils and taxeth the Priests who should haue been guides to the people to instruct and direct them that they became euen murderers of their poore soules And after he comes to the people and shewes that they were full of abhominable vices and no maruell Like Priest like people If the guides bee blind they must needs rush both into the ditch And if the Ring-leaders and Captaines bee so vile so wicked and so prophane alas what can bee expected of the common people but ignoranee and miserable blindnes Concerning the Priests the Prophet speakes more sharply that they were no better then wilfull murderers of the soules of the people and that they were like to robbers who doe deuise aforehand how they may bring their purposes to passe Euen so these Priests they mused how they might by false doctrine spoyle the people of God 1 Reg. 12.31 When Ieroboam came to bee King in the roome of Salomon hee banished the Leuites and made of the basest of the people the vilest of them to be Priests in the seruice of God and who would might be made a Priest of Ieroboam And these fellowes being set ouer the people they vvere no better then wilfull murdesers for they did seeke to draw the poor people from God to Idolatry and so murdered their poor soules Obiect Obiect But vvhy doth the Ptophet here compare the Priests to open theeues and common robbers Answere Answ First because as theeues doe often pretend fauour and friendship as though they would direct a man the right way and yet prey vpon them and kill them to get their goods Euen so these Priests they would seeme to bee as Fathers and as guides
c. Behold here what a straight charge the Lord hath giuen vnto the people of Israel and so vnto vs all to this end that no man should bee a Stranger vnto the Word And it is the commandement of our Sauiour Io. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for they are they that testifie of mee Act. 17. It was the great commendations of the men of Bereah that they searched the Scriptures to see whether those thinges were so as Paul deliuered they would not presentlie entertaine that Doctrine of theirs vpon the first view but brought the same to the Touchstone of Gods Word neyther would they reiect it though they had not before heard of the like 2. Cor. 4.3 What meanes that place of the Apostle Trie the Spirits whether they bee of God And againe If the Gospell bee hidde it is hid to those that perish in whom the God of this world hath blinded their minds So that it is most cleare that Ignorance of the Word and glorious Gospel of Christ in such as ought to know it is a most fearefull sinne and a most certaine fore runner of destruction for if this bee life eternall Ioh. 17.3 To know thee to bee the true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent Then on the other part it must needs bee the beginning of eternall death in those especially in these dayes that are ignorant of the true God and Iesus Christ whom hee hath sent So that wee see clearely that it is not our good intents and meanings that will goe for payment at Gods handes in that the Lord doth require that all men should take notice of his Will reuealed in his Word This condemnes the horrible practise of the Vse 1 Papists that maintaine all Idolatry and superstition their Masse Inuocation of Saints Prayer for the dead Worshipping of Images c. And they thinke that so long as they meane well and haue good intents and purposes all is well God cannot but bee pleased with them But wee are taught heere another Lesson namely that that is not good which we thinke good but that the Lord allowes and aproues of for good And therefore seeing the Lord abhors all Idolatry and superstition as most abhominable in his sight and that therein the whole seruice and worshippe of God amongst the Papists doth consist It shall little auaile them one day that they stand vpon their good intents and meanings All these shall not bee worth a button if the Lord can say of them as hree of this people I see villany amongst them Idolatry worshipping stockes and stones praying to Saints c. This is villany in Gods account and then what will their good meaning stand them in stead Had not Vzza a good intent to stay the Arke from falling but the Lord doth not so take it at his handes for it cost him his life And therfore sayth Samuel vnto Saul To obey 1. Sam. 15. is better then Sacrifices and to hearken is better then the fatee of Rams Oh then remember that thy ignorance will not excuse thee nor thy good meanings will not goe for payment at Gods hand to say though I doe this and this I meane well as the best of them all but if the Lord like not of it nor approue of it bee thy intent what it will bee all is in vaine the same is an abhomination to the Lord. Vse 2 Secondly this may serue to condemne a great many amongst vs that notwithstanding wee liue in such an age and time that both knowledge and grace is euen thrust vpon vs yet alas doe not the very body of our Congregations remayne ignorant still This is the condemnation that Light is come into the world and men loued darknesse rather then light Ioh 3.19 because their deedes were euill It must needes bee a strange darknesse that cannot bee driuen away by the bright heames of the glorious Gospell of Christ And surely God doth euen now sitte in iudgement vpon such persons and by this their ignorance especially in these dayes makes knowne their reprobation and finall perdition The excuses of men are but vayne I am not booke learned and I hope God will beare with me Thus I am taught and instructed by my Teachers I. but what if thy Teacher bee a blinde Guide wilt not thou trie the Spirits whether they be of God Surely such persons conclude their owne iudgement and giue sentence against themselues that they want grace and are in a most fearefull condition for now to bee ignorant in the cleare light of the Gospel it argues that Gods wrath and vengeance hath taken hold on such persons as the Apostle sayth 2. Cor. 4.3 If our Gospell bee hid it is hid to those that are lost in whome the God of this world hath blinded their minds that is of the Infidels that the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ which is the Image of God should not shine vnto them Oh then seeing it is so fearefull a iudgement of God to be ignorant of his Word and Will and that it will not excuse when God shall enter into iudgement with vs Let vs I say seeke for knowledge as for treasures Let vs search the Scriptures that in them wee may finde eternall Life Let vs labour to haue the Word of God dwell plentifully in vs which is able to make vs wise vnto saluation Let vs vse all holy meanes both to begette as also to increase this Knowledge in vs that so wee may not bee ledde aside by blinde guides to commit Idolatry with this people here but that God may bee still our God and wee his People I haue seene the villany of the house of Israel and the Whoredome of Ephraim Idolatry the sinne of this people THe sinne that Almighty God doth heere accuse them of it is Idolatry and that in most vile manner ouerspred generally the whole body of this people euen all the Ten tribes which sinne to shew the vilenesse of it the Lord cals Villany whoredome things abhominable to the Lord and such as hee loathes And hee cals it Whoredome because as an Harlot or an Whore doth forsake her owne husband and commits filthinesse with another man euen so Idolaters forsake God and marry themselues to Idols It is called the Whoredome af Ephraim because Ieroboam which came of the Tribe of Ephraim had set it vp amongst them 1. Reg. 12.28 to worship the Calues in Dan and Bethel Doct. 3 Now the Doctrine wee gather hence is this that it is a wofull and an heauy iudgement of God vpon a Country or Kingdome It is a heauy iudgement of God vpon a people when the chiefe gouernors bee Idolaters 2. Sam. 6.1 when the chiefe Gouernours be men voyd of religion and giuen to superstition Idolatry We see this in this present Text for here the Lord complaines of Ephraim and the ten Tribes because they were poluted with miserable Idolatry which was set vp
throweth his children into continuall miseries and afflictions Answere continuall pouerty and sicknesse all their dayes and the paine of a wounded conscience and troubled spirit till their last end yet it is for their good for by this meanes the Lord wil purge their corrupt cankered hearts to humble them throughly and to exercise their faith and patience to mortifie their carnall hearts to make them more earnest with God in praier and by their continuall afflictions to preserue and keepe them and preuent them from manifold sinnes and rebellions And yet notwithstanding God heares his children in their miseries and forsakes them not but in two dayes or at the most in three dayes that is in a very short time sends them comfort though hee take not their afflictions away yet he giues them that which is better for them Our Sauiour Christ prayed vnto his Father most earnestly with cries and teares to be freed from death Heb. 5.7 And was heard in that hee feared How was our Sauiour Christ heard in his Petition praying to be freed from death and yet hee must needes taste of the bitter cuppe of death Ans He was heard on this manner first in that hee was strengthned not onely to beare and suffer the death vpon the Crosse but to ouercome it and to vanquish it his Father sent an Angell to comfort him and afterward he was freed from the sorrowes of death And so it is with the poore members of Christ they be afflicted they liue in sorrow in pouerty in sicknesse in griefe of mind Well the Lord he giues them patience to suffer this affliction so as it is not tedious and grieuous vnto them and by his continuall afflicting of them he humbles them and purges them of their cankered corruption and stirres vp in them the feruency of prayer makes them out of loue with the world and makes them more to hunger after his mercy and to depend on his fatherly goodnes And thus though men thinke God forgets vs in our afflictions yet hee doth remember vs and giues vs that which is better for vs then if hee should altogether remoue his correction Iacob serued seuen yeers for Rahel and it seemed vnto him but a few dayes because hee loued her Gen. 29.20 And surely if we be perswaded of the loue of God that though hee afflict vs seuen times seuen yeares wee shall thinke it but a short time But the child of God oft complains that they be afflicted not onely with continuall pouerty and sicknesse but that they bee tormented with griefe of Soule and feele the heauy burthen of their sinnes and the anger of God against them for the same yet remember what befell thy Lord and Master Iesus Christ when hee went to execution the cruell Iewes made him carry his owne Crosse on his backe so long till hee could carry it no longer hee was so faint then behold the Lord sent a good Symon of Syren to carrie his Crosse for him So art thou crossed with affliction is thy soule wounded with the griefe and smart of sinne and doest thou pant and breath vnder the heauy burthen of the Crosse remember what thy Sauiour sayth vnto thee Come vnto mee all yee that trauell and bee heauy laden Mat. 11.28 and I will refresh you If thou canst runne to Iesus Christ in the middest of thy griefe and misery by true repentance and earnest prayer then he will become a blessed Simon to beare thy Crosse for thee hee will put vnder his owne shoulder hee will take thy sinnes and the anger of God and beare them on his owne backe and if wee can but fling our selues into the blessed Armes of his mercy hee will giue euerlasting rest vnto our soules And lastly whereas many of Gods children complaine Lam. 1.12 as Ieremy See if there were euer any sorrow like my sorrow And as the Prophet Dauid complaines Hath God forgotten to bee gracious and hath hee shut vp his louing kindnesse in displeasure Yet they must know and confesse that God doth in a short time comfort his children and that his afflictions are neyther troublesome nor tedious for though they last for the space of a mans life what is a mans life but a spanne long and a thousand yeares with God are but as a day Againe when they bee past and gone though they lasted many yeares it seemes but a short time And what is twenty yeares affliction in comparison of eternall ioy and happinesse in heauen who had not rather leade their liues in misery here then in eternall torment in Hell fire in the life to come Well seeing the afflictions of Gods children bee Vse 2 but light and moment any and last but for a few daies wee must learne that lesson which Saint Paul teacheth vs namely to reioyce in affliction knowing Rom. 5.3 that affliction bringeth foorth patience patience in suffering bringeth forth experience of Gods loue and fauour and experience hope and hope makes vs rest our selues wholly content to wayte the Lords leasure and were it not for this hope that God wil one day ease vs the hearts of Gods children would burst in sunder and his hope makes vs not ashamed seeing that such is the loue of God that he neuer failes nor forsakes his children Many indeed are our infirmities feares cares sorrowes and troubles heere yet in the middest of them all wee must say with the Prophet Psal 42.5 Why art thou cast downe Oh my Soule and why art thou disquieted within mee Wayte on God for I will yet giue him thanks he is my present helpe and my God Let vs not therfore despayre in the time of trouble Rom. 16.20 The God of peace shall tread Sathan vnder your feet shortly he is faithfull which hath promised Affliction must bee our portion heere wee must then get faith and patience into our soules that so we may hold out vnto the end The third generall obseruation is the deliuerance it selfe with the seuerall fruits and benefites therof in these words Hee will reuiue vs hee will rayse vs vp The deliuerance it selfe and wee shall liue in his sight Eph. 2.1 which words are expounded by the Apostle Paul when hee sayth Yee that were dead in trtspasses and sinnes hath hee quickned Meaning thereby that vntill such time as wee are quickned and that the Lord doth reuiue vs by the grace of Regeneration wee be no better then dead men howsoeuer we walke and talke heare and performe the actions of men yet in respect of any spirituall life or any spirituall actions alas wee are starke dead till the Lord reuiue vs this being so wee learne hence a twofold Doctrine First that by nature we are all starke dead in trespasses and sins And secondly that our Regeneration is as hardly wrought as to raise vp a dead man and to restore him againe to life Doct. 3 For the first of these wee are taught heere what we are by nature